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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Friday, June 14: Nick Travieso, Dayton . . . 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Actually, there were a lot of pitchers with comparable numbers, and Travieso's weren't the best of the lot. But given that it was the first win of his career, and he's pitching in the Midwest League at 19, and he's a first-round pick that we're all interested in, well, that's enough. Besides, this precludes the gimmick pick that sorely tempted me, atop the list below . . .

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Saturday, June 15: Greg Reynolds, Louisville: 6 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K. ERA 2.45. In a day of underwhelming performances, the 6-foot-7 right-hander--the former No. 2 overall pick by the Rockies--gets the nod for running his record on the season to 8-0. It's also a happy acknowledgement that Reynolds evidently decided not to exercise his option and leave the organization. He's a good get.

Also notable:

Jeff Fellhauer: 3-4, RBI.

Logan Ondrusek: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.

Ryan LaMarre: 1-3, 2B, BB.

Travis Mattair: 3-4, 2 2B, RBI.

Seth Mejias-Brean: 1-4, HR (people have been worried about his lack of them), 3 RBI.

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Sunday, June 16: Juan Silverio, Bakersfield . . . 3-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI. There was some spirited competition--particularly among pitchers--on a rare day when every club in the organization won, but Silverio's 7th-inning grand slam carries the afternoon. The longtime White Sox farmhand, batting cleanup and playing second base (he's normally at third), now has 7 HR on the season, two shy of his career high. He also now numbers more homers than walks (5). Silverio is another of the many fortuitous free-agent signings the club made this year.

Also notable . . .

Ismael Guillon: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. If anybody argues that Guillon should have been the choice of the day, I can't argue back. Particularly impressive is the reduction of walks that have bedeviled his season. In spite of a 6.00 ERA, the talented lefty now has a string of five starts in which he hasn't given up more than two runs. He's coming around, folks.

Shaun Ellis: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. The big Pensacola right-hander, signed after three years of Independent ball and one apparently out of the game, outdueled the formidable Archie Bradley.

Chad Reineke: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. His ERA stands at 3.44.

Jacob Constante (DSL Reds): The club's most publicized foreign signing this year put up an impressive line of 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. And he wasn't his team's best pitcher on the day . . .

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Monday, June 17: Corky Miller, Louisville . . . 2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Also 0-2, 2 BB. Considering that Dayton and Bakersfield were off and Louisville and Pensacola were crushed by a combined 27-4, my initial impulse was to award Nobody today. But I'm taking Doug's suggestion--not just for Corky's first-ever strikeout (which, yeah, is sufficient occasion for some sort of recognition), but also for his extraordinary dedication to the game and organization, and his unflagging willingness to take one for the team. Hats off to Corky. Baseball needs more like him.

Also notable . . .

Henry Rodriguez: 2-4, 2B.

Kris Negron: 2-3.

Travis Mattair: 1-3, HR (Pensacola's only hit).

Francis Azcona: 3-5, 2 R. The 17-year-old, switch-hitting second baseman, leading off for the DSL Rojos, is now batting .364 with an OPS of 1.027.

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Another reason to celebrate Corky today: His pitching-catching combo brings to mind that great Negro Leaguer, Double-Duty Radcliffe. But I don't know that even Double-Duty ever did double duty in the same game. He went back-to-back.

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Tuesday, June 18: Jesse Winker, Dayton . . . Won the home-run-hitting contest (10) before the Midwest League all-star game in Dayton. Hey, that's more memorable than somebody's 3 for 4, isn't it? He also got a mention on the Reds' telecast.*

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Originally Posted by mace

Another reason to celebrate Corky today: His pitching-catching combo brings to mind that great Negro Leaguer, Double-Duty Radcliffe. But I don't know that even Double-Duty ever did double duty in the same game. He went back-to-back.

Hold on...you mean he caught and pitched at the same time?!

(Referring to Jack Hannahan signing with a Korean team)
Since there are no teams on the moon, I guess South Korea's far enough from Cincinnati to satisfy me.
-RichRed

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Wednesday, June 19: Yorman Rodriguez, Pensacola . . . 3-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, RBI. Yorman's AA debut was a smashing success. Batting second (between Luis Durango and Marquez Smith), he drove all three hits to right field and was a centerpiece in the Wahoos' 4-2 victory to begin the season's second half. Perhaps the challenge of better competition will stoke Rodriguez's unanimously acclaimed physical skills.

Also notable . . .

Tim Crabbe: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K. ERA: 3.36.

Luis Durango: 2-4, BB, 2 R.

Neftali Soto: 2-5, 2B.

Kevin Whelan: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Israel Cuevas (Rojos): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Okay, this guy has gotten our attention. He's a 19-year-old righty who has now notched three scoreless efforts in four starts; and the other wasn't too bad. His ERA is 0.72, which isn't too bad, either.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Thursday, June 20: Cory Thompson, AZL Reds . . . 2-3, 2B, 2 HBP, 3 R. A couple weeks out of a South Carolina high school, Thompson, an overslot 5th-rounder, began his professional career with a leadoff double. For the night, the 18-year-old shortstop was the consummate leadoff guy. If I'm not mistaken, there was some discussion--and might still be--whether he will play the field or pitch. If his debut is any indication, I don't think we'll be seeing him on the mound--although his two errors might enter into that conversation.

Also notable . . .

Amir Garrett: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. The lanky lefty got the ball for Billings' opener, and threw it well. (He's never had a game like that in basketball. Well, maybe.)

Jeremy Kivel: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K. Last year's 10th-round pick made his professional debut as the Opening Day starter for the AZL Reds, and acquitted himself very nicely. Impressive.

Shane Dyer: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K. The 25-year-old former Tampa Bay farmhand has been lighting it up at Bakerfield, a 1.37 ERA. But that's tempered a bit by the fact that he was pitching (poorly) in Triple-A last year.

Kyle Lotzkar: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, Sv. Lotzkar's first career save. Good to see him have at least a taste of success at this point--something to build on.

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Friday, June 21: Greg Reynolds, Louisville . . . 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. Record 9-0. ERA 2.23. What a horse he has been for the Bats. Yet, as brilliant as Reynolds' bottom-line numbers are, he has rarely kept the opposition off the bases as he did last night, when he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. His strikeouts also tied a season high. He's not the overpowering kind of pitcher you might expect from a 6-foot-7 guy drafted No. 2 overall (2006), but he has certainly worked himself into position for a major-league call-up. Over his last five games (38.2 IP), the big guy's ERA is 0.70.

Also notable . . .

Junior Arias: 2-4, 2 HR (10), 3 RBI. He keeps getting better.

David Vidal: 3-4, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R. One step in reviving his prospect status, which took a dip this year with a very slow start in Pensacola.

Hector Vargas (DSL Reds): 3-4, 2 2B. This follows a 3-for-3 game for the young shortstop, who is now batting .380.

Travis Mattair: 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R.

Matt Kennelly (Pensacola): 4-5, 2B, 2R, RBI. The Australian catcher was signed after a long stint in the Braves organization.

Daniel Pigott: 2-4, 2 2B.

Jon Moscot: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

Jeff Gelalich: 2-4, 2B, 2 R.

Phillip Ervin: 2-4, SB. Reports have been very solid on his plate presence and defense.

Yorman Rodriguez: 2-4, BB, R, RBI. It remains all good for Yorman in Pensacola.

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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Saturday, June 22: Sal Romano, Dayton . . . 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. The big (6-4, 250) righthander regained the form he had shown earlier in the season. It was his first strong start since April. Since then, his best contribution had been talking Robert Stephenson into minor changes that made him a major force.

Also notable . . .

Phillip Ervin: 2-5, first professional HR, 4 RBIs.

Kyle Waldrop: 3-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI.

Hector Vargas (DSL Reds): 3-5, 2B. The third straight 3-hit game for the 18-year-old SS, who is now batting .400. In those games, he's 9 for 12.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Sunday, June 23: Daniel Paula, Billings . . . 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R. It was the first professional home run for the 20-year-old catcher, who last year batted .341 in his limited debut with the AZL Reds. He's now 6 for 11 on the season, which makes him somebody to watch until he indicates otherwise.

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